Method and apparatus for transmission of wireless signals in a mobile platform

• US 20070126569A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Dagci, Oguz
• Granted Patent: US 7,737,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for

Abstract

There is provided a method and system for communicating a signal output from a wireless sensor to a processor on a mobile platform upon interruption of wireless communications with the processor. The wireless sensor is signally connected to a local processor operative to wirelessly communicate with the processor. A second sensor is signally connected to first and second inputs of the processor via an electrical cable. The local processor is operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the second sensor to the processor effective to identify the wireless sensor and effective to communicate the wireless sensor signal via the second input of the processor.

Claims

1. Method for communicating a signal output from a wireless sensor within a mobile platform, comprising:

selectively interrupting transmission of a signal output from a hardwired sensor effective to identify the wireless sensor and effective to communicate the signal output from the wireless sensor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor upon interruption of transmission of the wireless sensor signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor effective to identify the wireless sensor comprises selectively executing first and second signal interruption events of the signal output from the hardwired sensor, wherein an elapsed time between the first and second signal interruption events is effective to identify the wireless sensor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor effective to communicate the output signal from the wireless sensor comprises selectively executing second and third signal interruption events of the signal output from the hardwired sensor, wherein an elapsed time between the second and third signal interruption events is effective to communicate the output signal from the wireless sensor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the elapsed time measured between the second and third signal interruption events is correlatable to a parametric value for the output signal from the wireless sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor effective to communicate the output signal from the wireless sensor comprises selectively executing a pair of signal interruption events of the signal output from the hardwired sensor, wherein an elapsed time between the signal interruption events is effective to communicate the output signal from the wireless sensor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the elapsed time measured between the signal interruption events is correlatable to a parametric value for the output signal from the wireless sensor

8. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor comprises electrically grounding the signal output.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor comprises electrically pulling the signal output up to system voltage.

10. System for communicating a signal output from a wireless sensor within a mobile platform, comprising:

the wireless sensor, signally connected to a local processor operative to wirelessly communicate with a processor;

a second sensor, signally connected via an electrical cable to first and second inputs of the processor; and

,

the local processor, operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the second sensor to the processor effective to identify the wireless sensor and effective to communicate the signal output from the wireless sensor via the second input of the processor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the local processor operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the second sensor to the processor effective to identify the wireless sensor comprises the local processor operative to selectively execute first and second signal interruption events of the electrical cable, wherein an elapsed time between the first and second signal interruption events is effective to identify the wireless sensor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the local processor operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the second sensor to the processor effective to communicate the signal from the wireless sensor comprises the local processor operative to selectively execute second and third signal interruption events of the electrical cable wherein an elapsed time between the second and third signal interruption events is effective to communicate the signal from the wireless sensor.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the local processor operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the first sensor to the processor comprises the local processor operative to selectively electrically ground the electrical cable of the second sensor.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the local processor operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the second sensor to the processor comprises the local processor operative to selectively electrically connect the electrical cable of the second sensor to system voltage.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the output signal from the wireless sensor comprises a linear signal.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the output signal from the wireless sensor comprises a discrete signal.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the signal output from the second sensor comprises a linear signal.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the signal output from the second sensor comprises a discrete signal.

19. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

selectively interrupting transmission of the signal output from the hardwired sensor upon an interruption of transmission of the wireless sensor signal.

20. System for communicating a signal output from a wireless sensor within a mobile platform upon interruption of wireless transmission of the signal output, comprising:

the wireless sensor signally connected to a local processor;

a second sensor signally connected via an electrical cable to first and second inputs of a processor;

the local processor, operative to selectively interrupt signal transmission from the second sensor to the processor effective to identify the first sensor and effective to communicate the signal output from the first sensor via the second input of the processor.

21. The system of claim 20, comprising the local processor operative to selectively execute first and second signal interruption events of the electrical cable wherein an elapsed time between the first and second signal interruption events is effective to identify the first sensor.

22. The system of claim 20, comprising the local processor operative to selectively execute second and third signal interruption events of the electrical cable wherein an elapsed time between the second and third signal interruption events is effective to communicate the signal output of the first sensor.